Sanitary napkin



Sept. 25, 1956 M. M. THORNTON SANITARY NAPKIN Filed June 29, 1953 United States Patent() SANITARY NAPKIN Maude M. Thornton, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application June 29, 1953, Serial No. 364,714

7 Claims. (Cl. 12S-289) My invention relates to sanitary napkins of the type attached to a supporting belt stretchable or adjustable around the waist of a user during menstrual periods; and its primary object is to provide a napkin which is made of maximum length to properly fit persons of large size or dimensions, yet is capable of being reduced in useful length to comfortably fit persons of minimum size or dimensions as well as those of intermediate sizes or dimensions.

Another object is to provide for such purpose, securing means at opposite ends of the napkin by means of which the latter may be fastened to the belt; such means including a long and a short securing tab at one or both ends of the napkin which are selectively usable in any combination; it being understood that when using the long tabs, the napkin will be used at maximum length; that when using the short tabs the napkin will be usable at its minimum length, and when using a short tab at one end and a long tab at its other end, the napkin will be usable at an intermediate length. These tabs may all vary in length so that several different lengths may be selectively usable to assure a proper and comfortable t to the body regardless of whether the user is lean, stout or of intermediate size or build.

A still further object is to provide a napkin of the type mentioned which is durable in construction, soft to the touch, highly protective so as` to prevent soiling of the clothing worn, and in which the absorbent pad embodied in the construction of the napkin can conveniently be positioned where it will be most effective.

In the accompanying drawing forming apart hereof, l have shown one exemplication of my invention and its application to a waist band or belt, and in this drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my improved napkin showing the same connected to a waist band orbelt.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the gauze binder and the absorbent material to be enclosed therein in the form of a cotton batting pad.

Fig. 3 is an inverted view of the completed pad after folding the gauze binding around the pad of cotton batting shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse view of the completedor gauzecovered pad taken on line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the completed gauze-covered pad taken on line 5 5, Fig. 3.

Figs. 6 and 7 are plan views of the short tabs at opposite ends of the napkin.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the foundation strip to which the completed pad shown inFig. 3 and the short tabs shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are attached.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the completednapkin.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken on line 10-10, Fig. 9, showing the completed or gauze-covered pad lying on the foundation strip.

Fig. l1 is a longitudinal section taken on line 11-11, Fig. 9.

Fig. 'l2 is a longitudinal section of one end of the napkin, showing the long tab at said end cut away for sepice arate use of the short tab normally overlying the long tab; the position of the long tab before removal from the napkin being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 13 is a similar view of the opposite end of the napkin showing the long and short tab in the form in which they are used when the long tab is attached to the waist band or belt.

Having reference to the drawings in detail, the numeral 14 designates a conventional type of napkin-holding belt. This may also be referred to as a waist band and may be constructed in various forms for attachment of sanitary napkins thereto.

In the type of band or belt shown, the ends thereof are connected together by a buckle 15, but it is to be understood that this belt may be formed of elastic material and be provided in any manner with means for attachment of the napkin thereto. In the particular instance shown in the drawing the band or belt is provided with depending flaps 16 to which the ends of the sanitary napkin are attached by means of safety pins 17 or otherwise, as shown in Fig. l.

The napkin is constructed of a strip or elongated piece of foundation material 18, preferably annelette or other material soft to the touch, and the oppositeends thereof are preferably tapered to form securing tabs 19 which, in comparison with other securing tabs to be hereinafter described, may be referred to as long tabs.

A gauze-covered absorbent pad 26 is medially disposed along the length of the foundation strip 18 and it is formed of a piece of gauze material 21 on which is lengthwise medially disposed an absorbent pad 22 of cotton batting or other similar material, preferably built-up of layers of such material gradually shortened from bottom to top to gradually taper the built-up pad at its ends with the extreme ends thereof comparatively thin. The piece of gauze 21 is considerably wider than the absorbent pad 22 of cotton batting and the side portions 23 thereof which extend` laterally beyond opposite sides of the absorbent pad 20 are folded over the pad 20 so as to have the sides overlap at the underside thereof, as clearly shown at 24, Figs. 3, 4, and l0. t

This gauze-covered pad 20 is preferably of alength extending from the inner end of one long tab 19 to the inner end of the other long tab and the complete pad 20,

`as stated, is tapered at opposite ends, as clearly shown at 25 in Figs. 5 and 11. This pad when positioned on the foundation strip has short tabs 26 overlying the tapered ends of the gauze-covered pad and the inner portions of the long tabs 19 and these short tabs and the `ends of the gauze-covered pad, when compressed to further reduce their thickness, if found necessary to increase the taper thereof, are fastened to the foundation strip 18 by means of stitching 27, the stitching; passing through the short tabs,`the ends of the gauze-covered pad and the foundation or strip 18 so that the five elements of the structure are securely connected together and have the :appearance shown in Fig. 9.

When the gauze-covered pad 20 is attached to the foundation strip, the overlapping sides 23 of the folded gauze material are retained in overlapped condition by reason of their contact with the upper or inner face of the foundation strip and therefore the gauze portion of the pad exposed is continuous from end to end and from side to side so `that a smooth unbroken face or surface is pressed against the body when the napkinis in use.

As stated, the completed napkin formed as described is to be attached to the flaps 16 of the waist band orbelt by means of the safety pins 17, or otherwise, and depending on the size or stature of the individual using the napkin, the long tabs 19 may be used for that purpose, in which case the short tabs 26 will be positioned as shown in Fig. 13 and lie against the body of the user. If' desired, the long tab 19 at one end of the napkin may be attached to one of the depending flaps 16 and the short tab 26 at the other end of the napkin be utilized in a like manner for attachment to a depending ap rof the waist band or belt, thereby reducing the length of the napkin. In such instances the long tab 19 at the end of the napkin having the short tab fastened to a depending ap of the waist band or belt may be allowed to hang down, but'preferably is cut off transversely outside 'of and in close proximity to the stitching securing said short tab in place.

To indicate the removal of the long tab 19 i have shown the same 'in dotted lines in Fig. 12 of the drawing. When using the tabs in the combination stated, the napkin is intended for use on a person of medium size r dimensions. If desired both long tabs 19 may be severed from the foundation strip 13 and the short tabs at opposite ends utilized for attachment to the depending flaps 16 of the waist band or belt, in which case the napkinwill be reduced in length for use on persons of small stature or dimensions.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the long and short tabs 19 and 26, respectively, at opposite ends of the napkin make the latter convertible into three different sizes in length, but the variations in the length of the napkin may be increased by utilizing a long tab at one end of the foundation piece of approximately the longitudinal dimension shown in the drawing and a somewhat longer tab at the other end thereof and by making one of the short tabs longer than the other.

It will be apparent that when the napkin is worn and placed in position on a person, a soft uify surface is provided in that only the foundation piece of the napkin is exposed. To guard against fraying at the edges of the foundation strip, I iind it of advantage to pink said edges, although not so shown.

A napkin constructed in the manner described will prevent fraying Vof the gauze and tearing out `of parts to cause separation of one constituent element thereof from another and the thickest portion of the napkin provided by the gauze-covered absorbent pad will be over the region of thefoundation strip 18 between the securing tabs at opposite ends of the napkin with a gradual taper from the thickened central portion thereof toward the stitching Z7 so that a comfortable feeling is had by the user, with assurance that the tabs used for fastening the same to the waist band or belt will not tear out, since the annelette or other soft material employed as the foundation strip, of which the long tabs form an integral part, and the short tabs which are preferably of similar material will retain the safety pins, by means of which the napkin is fastened to the waist band or belt, in place.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A sanitary napkin, comprising an elongated piece of annelette having a predetermined transverse dimension, an absorbent pad applied to the inner surface of Y said elongated piece of flannelette, serving as a foundation strip, and being of a width conforming to the width of said foundation strip and of a length somewhat shorter than the foundation strip to provide free securing tabs of a 'predetermined length at opposite ends of the latter, shorter securing tabs overlying the inner portions of "said first-mentioned securing tabs, and means to secure `outer ends of said foundation strip to provide free securing tabs extending longitudinally from the ends of the napkin, and securing tabs secured to opposite ends of said pad and said foundation strip by means common to both, said last-mentioned tabs differing in length from the first-mentioned securing tabs whereby all said tabs may be selectively used for attachment to a waist band or belt.

3. A sanitary napkin, comprising a gauze-covered absorbent pad having a lling of absorbent material, and a pair of securing tabs at each end of said gauzecovered pad, each pair of tabs being selectively usable for attachment of the napkin to a waist band or belt, the tabs at each end of the `pad being of different lengths and fastened iu place by means common to the tabs of each pair.

4. A sanitary napkin, comprising a gauze-covered absorbent pad having a lling of absorbent material and a pair of securing tabs at each end of said gauze-covered pad, each pair of tabs being selectively usable for attachment of the napkin to a waist band or belt, the tabs at each end o'f the pad being of different lengths and varying in length from those at the end of said pad so that they may be used selectively on individuals of different dimensions or stature.

5. A sanitary napkin, comprising an elongated piece of foundation Vmaterial having its end portions tapered and the portion between such tapered portions of even width and of a given dimension, an absorbent pad eX- tending from the inner end of the tapered portion at one end yof said foundation material to the inner end of the tapered Vportion at the opposite end thereof and being of substantially the same width as the intermediate portion of said foundation material, the ends of said absorbent pad being secured to said foundation material at the inner ends of said tapered portions, and securing tabs overlying the inner portions of said tapered portions and being of different lengths from the latter, said securingvtabs being secured at their inner ends to the ends of said absorbent pad and to said foundation material, the tapered end portions of said foundation material and the securing tabs being selectively usable for attachment of the napkin to a waist band or belt.

6. A sanitary napkin, having a pair of securing tabs at each end thereof, the securing tabs at each end differing in length and one overlying the other so as to form a short inner securing tab and a longer outer securing tab, said tabs being selectively usable for securing the napkin to a Waist band or belt, the longer securing tab at each end of the napkin being adapted to be severed from the latter when using the shorter securing tab at the same end for securing the latter to the waistband or belt.

7. A sanitary napkin, comprising an elongated piece of flannelette and an absorbent pad shorter than said piece of flannelette and disposed lengthwise medially thereon to provide free securing tabs at opposite ends of said piece of flannelette and being confined within gauze material folded around said absorbent pad to overlap and have the folds thereof facing said elongated piece of flannelette, shorter securing tabs overlying the inner portions of Vsaid first-mentioned securing tabs, the ends of said gauze-covered absorbent pad and the inner ends of said `shorter securing tabs being secured to said strip of annelette and said gauze-covered pad by stitching transversely through said three elements so as to provide a pair of securing tabs at each end of the napkin, said securing tabs being of different lengths so that they may be used selectively on individuals of different dimensions or stature.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS V782,176 France f May 31, 1935 

